You’ve come a long way, DIVA

CHARLOTTE DINGLE TAKES A LOOK AT BISEXUAL VISIBILITY IN DIVA OVER THE DECADES – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

BISEXUALITY IN DIVA

“I really don’t understand why you expect/seek acceptance from us when you’re not a lesbian,” says a reader’s letter in a mid-90s issue of DIVA. “We have fought long and hard to gain acceptance, both from within ourselves and from other gay women, and we don’t give that up to outsiders easily.” Another letter insists: “I read DIVA because I’m an out and proud lesbian/ dyke, not a fashionable wannabe. [Just as] I used to go to Pride every year for gay Pride, not to support any other cause.” Yet another correspondent snaps: “You can’t become a lesbian when it is convenient. Lesbians are born. It’s an identity that goes beyond sex. It is a state of mind, not some sort of perversion to tell your male sexual partner to get him off.” No prizes for guessing which group of people they’re talking about. We’ll draw a veil over the bisexual correspondent who later sent a letter which (I assume) was written in response, asking “Why are all lesbians ugly?” Hmm, that’s not quite the way to deal with it…

About DIVA Magazine

We are delighted to have singer songwriter Lucy Spraggan on the cover of our 250th issue, talking to Roxy Bourdillon about music, marriage and adulting like a boss. Read our interview, and don’t forget to check out our exclusive behind the scenes video and some extra shots from our shoot in east London.
Also in this special anniversary issue…
DIVA Awards: The winners!
Looking back at 23 years of lez/bi life
DIVA columnists Heather Peace and Jane Hill reflect on the how their lives have changed since coming out
Beyond the trans tipping point: Cerian Jenkins on non-binary inclusivity
Alynda Lee Segarra: “It took me a while to get down with Beyoncé”
Interviews with Stella Duffy, Lisa Gornick and Ruth Hunt
Get into gear: Top 10 rides 2017
Lets get quizzical: We test your brainpower with our LGBTeasers
PLUS: Family, career and much, much more!